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Who Dey Revolution Manifesto

Preamble

IN THIS TIME of perpetual Cincinnati Bengals incompetence and futility, with zero playoff wins in the nineteen seasons since the WhoDeyRevolution Godfather, Paul Brown, passed away in 1991 and handed the team to his fortunate son, the Despot, Mike Brown;

Introduction

WE, the members of the Who Dey Revolution, in our fervent dedication to the Cincinnati Bengals and fanatical desire to transform our hometown team into perpetual Super Bowl contenders, call for a popular revolution of fans to demand comprehensive reform to the managerial decisions and approach of Cincinnati Bengals ownership, management, staff and players, and hereby call for the adoption of the following Who Dey Revolution Manifesto:

Manifesto Demands

THAT the Mike Brown, Katie Blackburn, Marvin Lewis, along with every other member of the Bengals management, staff and personnel, state publicly to all Bengals fans, “I will do everything in my power to help the Cincinnati Bengals win a Super Bowl;”

THAT Mike Brown will hire a general manager, drastically expand the scouting department and relinquish all control of player personnel;

THAT all training, rehabilitation and medical facilities are considered best-in-class compared to other NFL teams;

THAT the management fill the team only with players who fit the system, both mentally and physically, and are not reluctant to makes changes to player personnel when needed, regardless of cost or loyalty concerns;

THAT offensive and defensive line depth is considered the top priority for all player personnel decisions;

THAT all decisions made by ownership, management, staff and players, both on and off the field, are judged only by this criterion: “Does this help the Cincinnati Bengals win a Super Bowl?”

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Marvin Lewis

March 18, 2013

The Enquirer's Joe Reedy has called this new Bengals era the 'reboot'...a period starting after that awkwardly painful press conference in January 2011 annoucning Marvin Lewis and Mike Brown coming to an agreement on a new contract. Ever since then - it's been the understanding that Marvin has had more control and influence on team decisions (Chad traded, Carson eventually traded, etc).

I believe that Marvin Lewis is staking his 'reboot' reputation on the re-signing of Ray Maualuga to a 2-year deal for $6.5 million (as of this post I have not seen the guaranteed money numbers).

The Bengals might have even been negoiating with themselves...since seemingly no other team really was interested. Maualuga left Arizona with no deal - and never visited the Giants or Ravens.

I do realize that Marvin Lewis and Mike Zimmer have forgotten more about NFL defense than any knowledge I could amass in my lifetime...but I don't think it's a stretch to say that Maualuga has not been an impact player at the middle linebacker position. He hasn't even been very good.

While Marvin possibliy was spinning his comment of "we think things are good they way they are" when asked if Maualuga was moving to the SAM linebacker spot...he and Zimmer certainly has a lot tied to this deal. They both have publicly praised Maualuga and said (essentially) that fans/media have overreacted to his supposedly mediocre play. If Maualuga flops in 2013 - this would definitely bring both of their assessment abilities into question.

It's possible there wasn't a better alternative out there and this is a stop-gap until a 2013 draftee can take his place. Lewis and Zimmer see Maualuga practicing everyday, they seem him in film sessions, and they see him in the weight room. Maybe they truly believe the light has come on in what will be his 5th NFL season.

But the Ravens have lost players after a Super Bowl win, the Steelers are still in Salary Cap Hell...and the Browns are forever the Browns. The AFC North is there for the taking. The time to attack is now...not two years from now.

Marvin and Maualuga are now linked by this deal. We will know very soon if it was the right decision.

October 22, 2012

When will the consistent and mind-numbing losing be enough for a change? How big of a sample size do you need before realizing that the current way of running an NFL team just doesn't produce results. How long does this miserable display have to continue before an actual front office structure is put in place with a general manager, respectable scouting department, and smart football people making football decisions.

Sunday night's hollowing 24-17 loss to the Steelers was just another example in a long line of defeats to the big boys in the AFC North. Despite all of the Steelers injuries and issues on the road this season - if you thought the Bengals were actually winning this game - you are a moron. We have just seen the movie script too many times. An outmatched Jay Gruden combined with a shocking lack of discipline on defense allowed a 21-3 run by Pittsburgh, on the road.

Halfway decent teams don't lose games when they are up 14-3 at home on Sunday night. Period.

After a 3-1 start, the Bengals are now 3-4 going into a stretch with two more home games against Peyton Manning (noodle arm or not he's going to obillerate our secondary) and Eli Manning (Victor Cruz might rack up 300 yards receiving). So now you are staring down the barrel of 3-6 before a 'breather' of sorts against KC and Oakland before a downright brutal December schedule.

The Bengals will finish 6-10 or 7-9, because that's just what they do, but it will still go down as one of the most disappointing seasons in team history.

Worst of all - a completely robotic Marvin Lewis has lost all will to live - which was clearly evident following yesterday's post-game press conference. In previous years, I'd argue he would just quit. Now? I think he understands there is nowhere else for him to go. He knows he won't get fired - not with two more years on his contract. He'll coach the remainder of his contract, collect millions, and then move on to the next opportunity.

Is he a good coach? Hell if I know. Bill Belichick, Bill Parcells or Vince Lombardi himself wouldn't have succeeded here under this ownership. If he gets another opportunity somewhere, it will be fascinating to see the results.

The culture inside PBS is beyond bad, it's a toxic waste dump. Absolutely nothing will turn this team around until the front office changes - and night's like last night drive that point home with a sledgehammer.

When the topic arises, Marvin preaches all the time that no one in the building wants to win more than Mike Brown. Based on the results since January 1991, what a horrifying prospect.

August 10, 2012

Since Marvin took over the team in 2003 the Bengals are 2-7 in the first preseason game of the season. The typical theme in every first preseason game: lots of mental mistakes and no spark. Expect nothing but the same tonight. Reedy, if you are reading this please ask Marvin why his teams are always flat for the first preseason game in the post-game conference interview.

Last season with only two weeks of cramming a new offensive playbook and two rookies at two critical spots (QB and #1 WR), the first preseason game was advertised to be the most unorganized and sloppy Bengal's game we may see in years. They didn’t fail to deliver. I don’t see why this game will look any prettier. For those that gamble, the Jets are an easy -105 giving up 1.5 points.

While Hobson is throwing another $10 cover pep rally over on Bengals.com, here at WDR we are going to help you with what really should be watched tonight.

When the Bengals Have the Ball

1. The Retooled Offensive LineForget all the talk of the WR’s. This will work itself out as the season progresses. In the end, I believe it will be a mix of Bimms (85) & Sanu (12) by the end of the season. However, WR’s don’t catch balls if the QB is being constantly pressured and the timing is thrown off. Ask the Patriots how that worked out in the Super Bowl.

Dalton may now actually have the protection he needs to succeed. The mistake (Livings) is finally gone to the Boy’s (good luck with that one Romo). Bobbie Williams should have retired, but left for the Ravens. After years of neglect, Marvin and company finally upgraded the guard spots by investing in a run blocker known for his consistency, Wharton (70), and drafting 1st rounder mauler, Zeitler (68). The key to the offense this year is how fast the lines gels.

Although the talent is there, fans need to anticipate growing pains along the OL with 2/5 of the line being retooled. Typically it takes half a season for an OL to gel and work out any communication errors. Seattle last year best exemplifies this process. Compare Lynch’s stats for the start of the season to the end; you will clearly see when their OL gelled and Lynch's fantasy value skyrocketed.

Since Rex Ryan’s scheme is all about creating confusion along the OL, expect plays to look completely fugly at times tonight. This will improve as the season progresses, but the execution could be lacking at times. If they can execute on a consistent basis, then that means they are ahead of the curve.

2. The Chess MatchThis is my favorite part of the game. This is a good first test of 2012 to see if Gruden can broaden the attack abilities of the offense. Last year he was a clear upgrade to Bratkowski, which isn’t saying much. But I was not impressed with his inability to spread the ball around once defenses began taking AJ Green out of the equation. However last year, he did have the deck stack against him with only a few weeks to install a vanilla offense in the preseason, had rookies in two critical spots, and a patch work OL to work with all season. The result was a passing tree that, although it was better than Brats, was not very aggressive nor did it take advantage of the true receiving talent that the team possesses. Tonight he faces the toe hugger, Rex Ryan, whose scheme is a great trial run for opening weekend against the Ravens.

A key indicator to follow the chess match at home is whether in certain game situations, i.e. 3rd & short, plays are getting blown up. They may because of the OL, but if the Jets are stunting to a side of the field and they get to the hole before the ball carrier, then the league is on to Gruden’s play calling trends. At the end of last season, Gruden’s play calling became very predictable - almost telegraphed at times. By going against a derivative of the scheme that he will face four times during the regular season, it will be interesting to see how capable Gruden is at mixing things up and getting multiple players involved in moving the ball.

If he can create mismatches to take advantage of the holes in the Jets defense, then it could be sign of good things to come. However from what I observed last season, I don’t have high hopes for Gruden’s upside, and I wouldn’t be surprised if Hue Jackson takes over the play calling duties at some point this or next season. But I could be wrong like I was once before...

3. RedRed is for real. I have to retract my statement from last year about his inability to succeed on this team. Last year with no offseason, a questionable OL, and a thinned WR corps due to injuries, Dalton put together a fantastic season for a rookie QB.

To put it in perspective: Palmer in his first year under center threw for 2,897 yards 18 TD’s and 18 INT’s for a QB rating of 77.3 in 13 games.

Dalton produced 3,398 yards, 20 TD’s and 13 INT’s for a QB rating of 80.4.

To add to this, the QB that everyone is comparing Dalton to threw for 3,284 yards, 17 TD’s and 16 INT’s for a rating of 76.9. That QB was Drew Brees. We all know what Palmer did his second season behind center and what Brees eventually became.

However this is actually not a fair comparison because Palmer played behind one of the most dominant OL’s in the league in 2005 and had a young, but experienced, WR corps at the time. Behind a gelling OL and inexperienced young WR corps, I don’t expect to see Dalton really begin to develop until later in the season.

Tonight will be a showcase of his ability to withstand pressure while finding the open man in a confusing defensive scheme. He showed us last year as a rookie he has the ability to read this defense. Now he has to show us he has developed by executing and spreading the ball around down the field to take advantage of the holes the Jets give him.

When the Jets Have the Ball

The D-LineForget the secondary tonight. There are too many injuries to truly assess its development tonight. The key to watch on the defensive side tonight is the new D-line.

The other major offseason move was the investment in the defensive line by drafting DT’s Still in the 2nd round and Thompson in the 3rd. Both are strong as hell and known to be run stuffers – something this team has been lacking for decades. The Texans took advantage of this weakness in the Wildcard game, and I was amazed when the Bengals logically addressed this hole.

The Jet’s OL is not as strong as it was in the past, but it still has the ability to control the line of scrimmage in both the running and passing games. Tonight will be a great test of both.

Keys to watch are:

a) How does the DL rotation that Zimmer created in 2010 and continued to develop last season incorporate Still and Thompson into the mix? Look for who they team Atkins (97) up with in different situtations.

b) Will the rotation be able to hold the line against one of the most formidable OL’s in the league in the first quarter? On running plays, watch to see if they can control the LOS or even dominate it at times.

c) Will the new DT’s free up the linebackers to finally allow them to make plays in space?

d) Most importantly, can the defense apply pressure to Sanchez on third down by only rushing four linemen?

February 24, 2012

Love or hate Lewis, whether he deserves blame or not, one thing is clear. In today's environment, there is not one team in professional sports that would have the same coach for NINE SEASONS after zero playoff wins.

November 11, 2011

I have been quiet for most of the first half of the season while I have been patiently observing this team. I must start this post by stating that I am well aware that some of the success that this team has experienced to date has come at the benefit of an easy schedule. However there are inherent differences about this year’s team that are not dependent on the strength of the schedule, or the number of wins.

After the first eight games, my conclusion is that "Black Jesus" is back. He has arisen!

In 2003, Marvin was hired to change the attitude and losing ways of the organization. He quickly and affectionately gained the nickname "Black Jesus" from Bengals players which fans then apodted since he was brought in to resurrect the franchise. His first three seasons were successful, culminating in the 11-5 division champion season. Led by a promising young QB with dangerous weapons at the skill positions and anchored by a dominate offensive line it appeared Marvin was going to achieve what he set out to do. After the failures of 2006, 2007, and 2008 due to the team falling apart from age and significant injuries, it appeared Marvin had failed and his tenure was done in Cincinnati.

No one was happy with the direction of the team, and everyone felt like it was headed back to the dark ages of the organization: the laughable 1990’s. This website was created as a response to this downturn. Its single purpose: demand change within the organization from the top down to return to the teams winning ways.

Marvin started his tenure out as a beacon of change this site stands for, but over the years it appeared he had become a victim of the system that he set out rebuild: the same organization that hired him to renovate, appeared to undermine him along the way.

After that dreadful press conference back in January announcing the return of Marvin for his ninth season, followed by the most disastrous offseason of PR a team could possibly have, our worst fears appeared like they were becoming a reality. The fans were going to have to suffer through a second era of the 1990’s with Mike Brown refusing to give up control. But something is happening now in Paul Brown Stadium that we did not expect, and it is unique from years past.

Even though the change that we are witnessing is possibly at its infancy, it is the type of change this website must acknowledge and potentially support if it continues; even if every item of our manifesto is not addressed immediately.

After being crucified during the 2010 season, the Marvin Lewis of 2003 appears to have returned from the dead and is building the type of team he was determined to create when he first arrived in Cincinnati. In his ninth season of a contentious tenure, this is without a doubt, HIS team. This team is different then any team of the previous eight seasons, and here are five reasons why:

1. This is his coaching staff At the start of his tenure, Bratkowski was retained as the offensive coordinator from Lebeau's staff per Mike Brown’s request. Brown finally gave in this past offseason and allowed him to be fired, four years too late in the Revolution’s opinion. Marvin, for some reason, hand picked Jon "no the other one" Gruden as his replacement and although everyone questioned the move (rightfully so) it has paid off major dividends to date. Excluding Jim Anderson (one of the best in the business), the coaching staff is finally built around Marvin and his philosophy; not connections to the Brown family, which is completely unprecedented in the history of Mike Brown’s tenure.

2. Regained control of the personnel decisions The building of the 2011 team started back in the 2006 NFL draft with Whitworth, Rucker, and Peko being the three remaining players from that class. The disasterous 2007 draft (only Hall remains) followed by the questionable 2008 draft (Simpson, Sims, Caldwell, and Collins) may have been a turning point for the team.

There is good reason to speculate that there was an internal power struggle between Marvin and Mike Brown after the disappointing 2006 and 2007 seasons. It is widely known that Marvin almost quit following this period due to the Chris Henry saga. From that string of draft fails, it appears that Marvin regained the trust of the family and more influence in making personnel decisions after the 2008 season. This has resulted in the three most successful drafts in recent history.

The 2009, 2010, and 2011 drafts are probably the longest string of successful drafts that this organization has ever experienced and is the foundation for the team’s success this year.

One thing that stands out with these recent drafts and this year’s FA acquisitions are that the Bengals have been selecting players that fit a system, rather than continuing Mike Brown’s ways of going with the best player available. They have passed up highly rated players that are succeeding on other teams, but may not have fit in this team’s systems.

The drafting of Dalton is an excellent example of this systematic strategy and Marvin’s renewed influence in personnel decisions. It has been well reported Mike Brown wanted Mallet with the second pick. Mallet is a quintessential Mike Brown pick: a huge QB with a cannon for an arm who can make all the throws; however he is a potential head case and will either be a star or a train wreck – in essense a huge gamble. Lewis and Gruden had to sell Brown to not give in to his gambling instinct and pick Dalton since they felt he was a better fit for Gruden’s system and had the intangibles. Only time will tell who was right with this selection, but as of today it looks like Marvin and Gruden made the right call.

In addition to the recent success in the draft, Marvin was instrumental in getting the Palmer deal done, which is one of the biggest trade rapes I have ever seen since season 1 of the League (hillarious show if you have not watched it). Due to the former GM of the Redskins spilling the beans, we now know for a fact that it was Brown who refused a better deal (two guaranteed 1st round picks in 2008 & 2009) from the Redskins for a declining Chad Johnson. The GM said that Marvin wanted the Johnson deal done, but Mike Brown shot it done every time. At one point, he even told the Redskins to stop calling.

It was a typical Mike Brown move putting personal pride over improving the team. When the opportunity to move Palmer became a reality, Lewis pushed Brown to make the right decision and not repeat the same mistake again.

The Palmer deal may have been the tipping point that helps push this team to the next level in the coming years. Not only do they have a future franchise QB & WR in rookies Dalton and Green, but Marvin demonstrated he has regained significant influence in personnel decisions by getting the trade Palmer and selection of Dalton completed.

If the run of successful drafts continues next year, it will allow the team to fill the remaining holes on the team (LG, RB, DT, S, and CB). They have a team that buys into Lewis’ philosophy 100% and is built for Gruden’s and Zimmer’s schemes. With the remaining holes filled it should allow them the opportunity to take the next step next year and potentially become Super Bowl contenders heading into the 2013 season. That is as long as Mike Brown doesn’t find a way to screw things up.

3. Better preparationDuring the lockout, Marvin & company went to work and reached out to former coaches to learn from their experiences on how to deal with shortened timeframes for preparation and playbook implementation.

Marvin had Chip Morton study training alternatives for the players to reduce opportunities for strains and pulls, and improve the overall conditioning in the shortened offseason. In the preseason, it was clear the team was better conditioned than the opposing teams, and it has paid of so far during the first half of the season. Lewis’ team is playing hard all four quarters taking advantage of their better conditioning in the second half of the game by grinding the opposing teams down. Through eight games they are outscoring opponents in the forth quarter 87-43 and 126-59 in the second half.

According to PFT, Zimmer contacted two former greats and from their recommendations implemented a strategy that kept the defense simple so it would be easier to teach the players the basics. This has allowed the defensive players to react rather than think, and we are witnessing fewer communication mistakes than the team is historically known for.

Remember this ugly 1st preseason game, the game where the Lions passed at will? At the time, Zimmer was working primarliy on stopping the running game. Since the passing game looked horrible, everyone overlooked that they successfully held the Lions to a 2.1 yard per carry average on the evening. Since that game they have continued that trend, which has helped them to become a top 5 defense heading into week 10.

4. Just one ego: the team’sGetting rid of Chad and Palmer were the best moves Lewis could have made. They missed their opportunity with Chad back in 2008 that would have not only removed the side show distraction, but also helped them make the team better with two extra first round picks. Removing these two have allowed new leaders to step up and removed the oxygen sucking side show.

Not only have they recently drafted players that are designed to fit the team’s strategy, but they have also been selecting players that are team players. It has been refreshing to hear of no locker room drama, no bulletin board material for the opposing teams, or no bull shit excuses in the paper. For the first time in years, there are not 53 egos that are focused on themselves; but rather one focused on the success of the team.

5. They are winning the chess matchOn defense, Zimmer has taken advantage of the recent draft and free agency successes and molded the players into a young, aggressive, and cohesive unit that continues to develop each week.

The eight-man rotation that he has developed is the foundation and heart of the defense. The success of this and any defense begins in the front seven’s ability to control the line of scrimmage and get pressure on the QB in the passing game. By rotating the players to keep them fresh throughout the game, Zimmer has orchestrated a pass rush that is unprecedented in this team’s history. As far back as I can remember, opposing QB’s have always had time to tie their shoes when they dropped back to throw; getting pressure by only bringing a blitz. Now opposing QB’s have to rush their reads and throws even if Zimmer sends only four.

Zimmer has also proven that he can win the chess match, making adjustments at the half to shut down the opposition. Against the Titans, Zimmer adjusted by calling less blitzes in the second half and relying on the front four to pressure Hasselback to reduce the number of big plays the defense had given up. As a result, the Titans gained only 95 yards and were shut out of the end zone the rest of the game. He has been doing this almost every week since the first game.

The offense, on the other hand, had more of a challenge this year since his players had to start from scratch. Gruden had less than 60 days to install his offense, and so he followed in Zimmer’s steps taking a very slow approach, knowing that if they went too fast the players would be lost. As a result, the offense has been very vanilla in games, but each week it appears to have more pieces added. The passing tree is improved in comparison to Brat's, but at times seems like it is not used effectively.

Unlike his moronic predecessor, he has shown the ability to attack the defense (regardless of whether it is man, cover two, etc.) and create favorable matchups. For instance, as Hobson pointed out in a recent article, they have been moving Green around to get him in favorable matchups – something Bratkowski never did with Chad.

The rookies are thriving under the vanilla scheme. As the season has progressed, Dalton has looked more like a veteran than a rookie at times, and his development continues to impress each and every week.

While at times the offense struggles, especially in the first half, they are able to remain a threat in all four quarters. In the past, the offense would have collapsed and not been competitive in the second half. This year they continue to grind, even if they have a long shot of pulling it out.

Gruden has demonstrated in these first eight games the ability to make adjustments at the half that allow the offense to move the ball, and, at times, in a very impressive manner. In every game, he has either won the chess match or stayed very competitive, not once has he been dominated. This week’s matchup is going to tell a lot about Gruden ability, but from what I have seen so far, he has the ability to grind through adversity.

What are we experiencing?I would like to hope that what we are witnessing at the halfway point of the season is the beginning of change at Paul Brown Stadium. The type of change that we all have demanded.

From my professional experience, this is what the beginning of change looks like. It starts out slow, so slow it is almost unnoticeable (sometimes it even takes a few steps backwards), and it faces a lot of internal resistance. Once it hits a tipping point due to experienced success, the culture of change begins to take over an organization, providing the opportunity for new methods and philosophies to take root.

With the return of Black Jesus, we may actually see some progress made on elements included in the manifesto of this site in the coming years. If the recent successes continue, Paul Brown Stadium may finally be approaching its tipping point.

Looking aheadHeading into the season, I predicted this team would be 7-9 or at best 8-8. If injuries don’t ravage this team, they have a decent chance of going 9-7 or at best 10-6 this point forward. Whether they make the playoffs is inconsequential, they have exceeded everyones’ expectations and potentially provided an opportunity for real change in the organization to finally take place.

The four games against the Steelers and Ravens are going to tell a lot about the make up of this team. There is a good possibility they get blown out in the first game against the Ravens, but from what I have seen there is nothing that shows me they cannot beat the Steelers.

Against good defenses the Steelers offense struggles since they cannot control the line of scrimmage like they have traditionally. Our DL should be able to apply pressure with a four-man rush going against their patchwork of an OL. The new OLB’s have been the major surprise in their ability to cover and provide pressure, and should be able to slow down Miller. Rey, simply put, is the identity missing at MLB since Jim LeClair. The secondary is adequate, but is overcompensated from the strength of the DL. If Ben can lengthen plays like he is capable of doing, Brown and Wallace will do some damage against the weak safeties and CB depth.

On the flip side, the Bengals OL is the weak link of the offense. They still cannot control the LOS and consistently get push up the middle when needed in short yardage, which is why Gruden is throwing more in these situations and Benson & Scott struggle at times. If they fail to upgrade the interior of the OL this offseason the offense is not going to continue to develop next season. Dalton as a QB is able to make all of the reads and is not forcing the ball out as fast from becoming more comfortable in Gruden’s system. His ability to get the ball in tight spots has been amazing – especially since he is a rookie. He is playing a lot better than I predicted even without a solid OL in front of him, and I am looking forward to watching him develop next season.

Dalton is the key to beating the Steelers. If the Steelers aren’t able to confuse his pre-snap reads, rattle him with their blitzes, or force him to make mistakes like they did with Palmer, Dalton’s pinpoint accuracy could pick apart their weak secondary. Simply put if they are successful, they will win. If they can’t, the Bengals could possibly sweep the overrated Steelers.

October 17, 2011

Fellow comrade-in-arms, Paul Daugherty of the Cincinnati Enquirer and SI.com, was blasted by Marvin Lewis during his weekly press conference today.

"He" was never identified, but consideing Lewis's contentious relationship with the local media during his entire stint in Cincinnati, - could 'he' really be anyone else?

Is there anything you would like to say to the fans to get the attendance back up?ML: “I can’t change people’s minds about things. You know what I mean? Someone has done a very good job of driving them away from here. And he’s been very wrong.”

You said earlier that ‘he's’ doing a good job of driving fans away. Who do you mean by ‘he’?ML: “I said he did. So that's all I said. Nope, no clarification.”

September 21, 2011

One thing about the Bengals is they have never lacked for surprises. Very bad weed jokes became commonplace on an otherwise regular hump day and the zombiefied 2006 jokes came back in full force.

More interestingly the Bengals have been found to be a staggering -3 on Sunday. At this point I'm thinking the Ginger to Green combo should at least make the games entertaining like Blake to Pickens & Scott.

January 06, 2011

Now wading waist deep in the aftermath of Tuesday's press conference, it's time for a recap of what exactly took place at 4:30pm in the bowels of Paul Brown Stadium.

As I posted Tuesday afternoon, Marvin Lewis had decided not to return. I stand by that, as I also stand by my comment that the situation could change. He had left the stadium and gone home, his coaching future in limbo, and honestly didn't know what his next move would be. Then a call from Sam Wyche. Another from Mike Brown, urging him to return to the stadium to try and work this out. Whatever happened between 1pm and 4pm, we might never know. But, as a Bengals fan, you have to hope it was something dramatic. Something more significant than agreeing to fire Bob Bratkowski or cut Chad Ochocinco. In reality, it probably wasn't. And that's pathetic. In the end, it was probably the ego of Lewis...the ego of an NFL coach...to believe that with a little more control over coaching and player decisions, that he can be the one to turn this thing around.

January 04, 2011

WDR has learned from a source close to Marvin Lewis, that Marvin has decided he will NOT return to the Cincinnati Bengals. This source reveled that the negotiations between Marvin and Mike Brown did not result in a compromise, and Marvin has decided to move on.

However, we all know these things can change (other than Mike Brown hiring a GM...that will never change). Stay tuned and check back throughout the afternoon.

UPDATE: our commenters confirm via the Bengals twitter account and 700 wlw that Marvin is actually back. Wow. More later when details are released. While we are suprised our source was wrong (trust us when we say this was a good source), we are very interested to learn what concessions Mike Brown has made to keep Marvin in Cincy.